How and Why Do Criminal Justice Public Policies Spread Throughout U.S. States? A Critical Review of the Diffusion Literature

• NCJ Number: 237410
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2011 Pages: 403-421
• Author(s): Tiffany Bergin
• Date Published: December 2011
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents the first review specifically of studies that have examined the diffusion of criminal justice policies throughout United States.

Abstract

Why do some criminal justice public policies spread rapidly throughout U.S. States, and other policies never take hold? To answer this question, this article presents the first review specifically of studies that have examined the diffusion of criminal justice policies throughout U.S. States. After a comprehensive review of key research databases, 23 studies are identified. The key findings of these studies are analyzed in great depth, with particular reference to cross-study differences in how three variables from the general policy literaturegeographic proximity, political ideology, and media attentionwere operationalized. The article identifies important gaps in current knowledge about the factors that affect the diffusion of criminal justice policies and suggests several directions for future research in this area. (Published Abstract)